Carmody will stay in Fort Dodge

Chief wants to ‘focus on our future’

February 7, 2013

Fort Dodge Police Chief Tim Carmody will be staying in Fort Dodge, three weeks after he learned he was a finalist for the police chief's position in Bellevue, Neb.

Carmody, who has been with the FDPD since September 2010, learned Monday he was not selected for the position.

The job went to Mark Elbert, a 17-year veteran of the Bellevue Police Department. Elbert has been serving as interim police chief of the department, which is in the Omaha metropolitan area, since June 2012 when the former chief resigned.

Before coming to Fort Dodge, Carmody spent 22 years with the Omaha Police Department, eventually making his way up to the rank of captain.

At the time the finalists' names were announced, Carmody said his decision to apply for the Bellevue position was based solely on an opportunity to be closer to immediate family members who live in the Omaha area.

Carmody said Wednesday he has mixed feelings about the decision.

"I'm disappointed that we weren't able to return and be closer to family in the metro," he said. "But I also feel that we're truly blessed here. I see a very bright future here in Fort Dodge, and I want to be a part of it."

"We have a great staff that's very committed to providing great service," Carmody added.

Carmody said the city has made progress over the past several years.

"The people that are here have been very supportive and are always giving compliments about the progress," he said. "I want to continue to be a part of all those things."

His favorite part about being the chief in Fort Dodge is the people he has interacted with.

"From the community members to the peers in public safety, to our partnerships with the schools and our staff," he said, "it's the people that I enjoy the most."

Carmody said he can't take credit for the progress that the community has made over the last two years.

"It's not about me," he said. "Our success has been as a community."

For now, Carmody said he looks forward to moving on and continuing his work as the chief of the Fort Dodge Police Department.

"We need to focus on the possibilities, the challenges of the future and moving foward," he said. "I'd also like to thank everyone for their support."